Social

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Principal of Zumba
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COURIER photos/Steven Felschundneff San Antonio High School Principal Steven Boyd, at right, is one of 2 men in a class of about 30 women in a Claremont Club Zumba class led by Anette Parker.

Marathon
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Sports
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Friday, April 26, 2013

ourier C
Claremont

claremont-courier.com

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Making REAL Connections

by Beth Hartnett

Local organization hosts social events for senior community.

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Against the odds

The Claremont COURIERs annual Healthy Living special is a guide for local health aficionados and savvy seniors, as Claremonters are notoriously active well into their golden years. Our community offers a variety of senior centers, health options and community organizations, making Claremont an ideal retirement locale and a haven for families. In this special edition, youll find out about resources for senior socializing, fitness trends, cancer research funding, health education in schools and the residents who participate these programs.

by Anam Sethi

After battling and beating cancer, Virginia and Van Garner run for a cure.

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Fun-filled fitness

by Sarah Torribio

San Antonio principal gets into shape using Zumba fitness craze.

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Team spirit

by Chris Oakley

Athletics provide students with balance, opportunities.

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Seniors make REAL Connections with community

REAL Connections Director Brandi Orton leads a group discussion during a recent party for the senior services organization. A large part of REAL Connections success revolves around the social events that keep participants involved in their community.

he past several years have brought a lot of uncertainty for Upland resident Joan Guyon. With her husbands passing and glaucoma taking the sight from one of her eyes, she found herself, for the first time in her life, inextricably stuck.
I was frustrated like mad, Ms. Guyon admitted. All my life Ive been an active, in charge person who would jump in the car and go. And here I was, trapped. Her one source of stability, she says, was her home, where she has resided for the past 57 years, raising her 2 children and taking care of her husband after he suffered from a mini-stroke. But with her health failing and her inability to get anywhere, even that was starting to slip away until, by recommendation of her daughter, she found an option that would keep the cornerstones of her life in place. Ms. Guyon is one of nearly 50 local seniors taking part in Claremont Senior Services REAL Connections Village to Village Network, part of a greater grassroots movement called the Village to Village Network and
COURIER photos/Steven Felschundneff REAL Connections Director Brandi Orton embraces member Margaret Wise at the end of a lunch gathering for the group recently in Ontario. One of the goals of REAL Connections is to provide social events where older residents can mingle with the staff and volunteers.

aimed at helping seniors remain in their homes as they grow older. REAL ConnectionsREAL standing for Resources for Ageless Livingworks by highlighting the strengths of each of its members and volunteers to find out ways they can help each other. A network of preferred professionals fills in where extra help is needed. If people want to age in place in their own homes, it takes a village to make that happen, explained Brandi Orton, REAL Connections director of member services. The village has really become a community of people supporting each other.

The village model operates under the principle that every community member has something to contribute. It could be the ability to drive a fellow member to a doctors appointment or, for homebound seniors, the ability to make a phone call to another in need. Claremont resident Eve Tessier, 92 years old, is unable to drive, but is happy to share her enthusiasm with those in need. She has an open-door policy for fellow village members. If people are feeling sad, they come in here and start laughing, Ms. Tessier shared with a cheery demeanor.

The village movement was started in 2001 by a group of Boston-area seniors looking for resources to allow them the ability to continue living in their homes. We wanted more freedom and control than we found in models that focused on single issues, such as housing, medical care or social activities. We wanted to be active, taking care of ourselves and each other rather than being taken care of, the Beacon Hill village expresses on its website. We, the members, decide
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James Clay, left, greets Jim Graham during a recent party for Community Senior Services REAL Connections program at a volunteers Ontario home. Mr. Clay is a member of the program and Mr. Graham is one of the drivers.
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what we need and want. We have an expert staff, a great variety of service providers, enthusiastic volunteers and strategic partners, but we govern the village, design its offerings and make it all happen. They now reach out to help others to do the same. To date, 89 village communities span the globe, with 123 in development. The REAL

Connections village is thriving thanks to the help of Claremont Senior Services and a team of volunteers and members throughout the Inland Valley, to which the service caters. Each village operates with one employee and a network of volunteers. Ms. Orton keeps the operation functioning with the help of 58 fully vetted volunteers. Though volunteers and members do help with daily tasks like driving each other to the grocery store or

provide health care advocacy, it isnt all routine duties. REAL Connections also hosts a series of social events for its members, from monthly potlucks and coffee klatches to regular poker nights, with a pinochle group to soon be added to the list. Our members tell us what they want and then create it, Ms. Orton said. A village is not just about meeting someones needs as far as getting them to the doctors or taking them to the grocery store. Yes, thats

part of it, but villages are more about building relationships. REAL Connections programming has provided Ms. Guyon, who is newly widowed and unable to drive, with the social opportunities she craves but has sorely missed in recent years. The big wide world is still out there, I discovered. And people, too.
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Eve Tessier shows a photograph of her son to REAL Connections volunteer Carol Raybould last Friday at Ms. Tessiers Claremont home. Ms. Raybould drives many area seniors to doctors appointments and other events as part of the REAL Connections program. On Friday, Ms. Tessier was headed to Pilgrim Place for one of their social gatherings for seniors.
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My goodness! Ms. Guyon jested, but on a serious note she added that it has given her the chance to break free from her confinement to her home. After being stuck in my house, this was just the answer to what I needed. The social outings and services provided by REAL Connections reach beyond its membership. The program has been a godsend for

Brenda Schmit, who works at the colleges full-time while also assuming primary care of her mother, Mary Schmit. Between rushing back-and-forth to her home, where her mother resides, to help with her needs and spending her weekends catching up on errands, the overload in responsibility began taking a toll. My mom is a real social butterfly and it was challenging for me to find enough things for her to do while I was away at work, Ms. Schmit said. She felt a loss of freedom and I was

limited in what I could to do help her. In September, Ms. Schmit met with Ms. Orton and signed her mother up with REAL Connections. Since then, Ms. Schmit says she has seen a vast improvement in her mothers health as she returned to the busy social schedule that makes her happy. Shes probably more busy now than ever before, Ms. Schmit laughed about her mothers itinerary, which includes shopping on Mondays, volunteer work at a local hospital on Tuesdays and learning about social media with a REAL

Connections intern on Thursdays. It gives her something to look forward to and I dont have to worry about her when Im at work, Ms. Schmit said, appreciative of all the help. Its like I have 2 or 3 new sisters, she says of the volunteers. They have definitely become a part of the family. Above all the things that REAL Connections providesthe ability to live in home longer, a source of dediREALCONNECTIONS continues on the next page

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cated providers with discounted rates and a one-call stop for all members needsit is this relationship-building aspect that hits home most for Ms. Orton. The village really goes back to the way we used to live, where we knew our neighbors and we relied upon each other for help, Ms. Orton said. The relationships are the most meaningful part. You do not have to be a Claremont resident to be a part of REAL

Connections. Members and volunteers span Alta Loma, Claremont, La Verne, Pomona, San Antonio Heights, Rancho Cucamonga, San Dimas and Upland. To become a part of the REAL Connections team, either as a member or volunteer, contact Ms. Orton at 621-6300 or by email to Borton@realconnections.org. Membership is $54.50 a month and includes all services, except for contracted work through one of the nonprofits preferred providers. Becoming a volunteer is free.
Beth Hartnett news@claremont-courier.com

COURIER photos/Steven Felschundneff Ms. Raybould helps Eve Tessier to her car in Claremont. Ms. Raybould has been a volunteer with REAL Connections since last summer but this was her first time giving Ms. Tessier a ride.

SELLING, BUYING OR RENTING? Advertise in the

Claremont COURIER! Call Jessica at 621-4761.

Claremont Colleges students spread word on energy savings during spring break
Ten students from the Claremont Colleges forewent their typical spring break of beaches and relaxation this year to teach hundreds of children in Claremont, Pomona, Diamond Bar, Chino and Chino Hills how to save energy and help the environment. During the last week of March, members of the student organization CALPIRG Energy Service Corps worked to spread the word on energy savings. Educating 829 kindergarten through 12th grade students in the area, ESC volunteers highlighted simple steps students can take to improve their environment by becoming more energy efficient. Hundreds of kids in the local area are now equipped with the knowledge that CFL bulbs last 10 times longer than normal incandescent ones and the desperate need to trade non-renewable energy resources for cleaner and healthier renewable alternatives. The passion and excitement you could see the kids develop as they understood our lessons was amazing to be a part of. It truly was an experience I will remember for the rest of my life, said Claremont McKenna College K-12 Education Coordinator Caleb Case (16). Student members also reached out to dozens of homeowners in the area. With simple home surveys, volunteers were able to give tips on what an average homeowner or renter can do to cut back on wasteful energy habits, saving money on their energy bills and protecting the environment at the same time. CALPIRG Energy Service Corps is a joint program of the California Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG) and AmeriCorps and is based on 14 college campuses across the state. The programs mission is to mobilize college students to increase energy efficiency in their local

HEALTHY LIVING/2013

community through service and education projects. During their third annual Alternative Energy Spring Break Trips, nearly 100 university students have organized trips in Los Angeles, South Lake Tahoe, the Bay Area, Pomona and San Jose. Through these five trips, over 10,000 K-12 students will be educated about what they can to do save energy and the environment. Following spring break, CALPIRG Energy Service Corps will continue teaching young students across California throughout the semester, in addition to educating the community about energy efficiency through workshops and performing free home energy assessments and weatherizations. For more information or to request a lesson or weatherization, contact Claremont Colleges Campus Organizer Melanie at Melanie@energyser vicecorps.org or visit www.energyservicecorps.org.

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Against the odds: Claremont couple, survivors run for cancer cure

Longtime Claremont residents Van and Virginia Garner make their way down 12th Avenue while training in the Claremont Village. For over 10 years the couple have been running as a means to stay in shape and raise money for charity.

laremont residents Virginia and Van Garner have been married for 45 years. During the course of their relationship, they have both struggled with and defeated cancer, by means of clinical trials. They have raised more than $280,000 for cancer research and provided care for many patients, including each other. Together, they have run and walked 27,118 milesmore than the circumference of the earth. Now, it is their joint mission to make a cancer a thing of the past merely a distant memory.

On August 6, 1997, Ms. Garner, then a high school teacher, paid a visit to her doctor for her annual physical. What she discovered left her shell-shocked. I heard the world leukemia, Ms. Garner recalled, and after that I didnt hear much else. Ms. Garner was diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML), a rare cancer that, according to her, was not salvageable. It was Van Garner who came to the rescue. He assumed the role of caregiver, fixed the food, and learned where everything was in the kitchen. I didnt care of I ate or not, Ms. Garner said. But he kept me alive by feeding me. More importantly, though, Mr. Garner, then the dean of the College of the Extended University at Cal Poly Pomona and a professor of history, used his skills and connections as a researcher to find a clinical trial at UCLAone that eventually saved Ms. Garners life. In April of 1999, after about a year of typical cancer treatments and drastic side effects, Ms. Garner swallowed her first life-saving pill: a drug named Gleevec that tackled the molecular cause of cancer and opened the door for many other drugs to do the same.

COURIER photos/Steven Felschundneff Van and Virginia Garner sport their team shirts for honored teammates Tyler, a 10 year old who has struggled with cancer and Ale, who recently succumbed to the disease. The couple are cancer survivors themselves and run for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in order to raise awareness and funds for research.

I became the first person to swallow itin the whole world, she said, adding that April 19 is her rebirth day. It was not until 2000, when she received a flyer in the mail from Team In Training (TNT), a program sponsored by The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS), that Ms. Garner discovered her passion in life. She found out that the LLS was a major supplier of grants that helped research the pill that had saved her life. Although they had no former experience running or walking marathons, Mr. and Ms. Garner became participants in the San Gabriel Valley (SGV) Team in Training Marathon Team. Accomplishing great feats in not new to the fami-

ly. Mr. Garner is the grandson of Herman and Bess Garner, who were among the leading families of Claremont at the time they built the Garner House in 1926. In 2001, the houselocated in the heart of Claremont at Memorial Parkbecame a home for Claremont Heritage and a symbol of Claremonts history. For the Garners, TNT also seemed like the perfect balance between being healthy and aiding cancer research. I was so thankful to feel good again, Ms. Garner recalled. Since it was so personal, that meant a lot, too.
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In 2001, soon after discovering TNT, Mr. Garner was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma. Ms. Garner now found herself in the role of caregiver, looking after the man who had saved her life. Mr. Garner, on the other hand, found himself a patient and derived inspiration from his wife and her journey. Mr. Garner continued running and walking marathons during treatment. He was eventually saved by a clinical trial that was ironically funded in part by the LLS. Virginias whole experience probably saved my life, Mr. Garner said, adding that the research and knowledge he garnered over the past few years helped him make an informed decision. He had previously rejected an offer to participate in a clinical trial that later proved to be unsuccessful. The trial that saved his life was the second he was offered, and led to the discovery of a drug named Yervoy that aimed specifically at treating melanoma. Interlaced within Mr. and Ms. Garners story is the story of a young boy named Tyler Cordova, who was only 5 years old when he met the Garners. He was fighting his own battle against cancer at the time and immediately connected with Mr. Garner, who was doing the same. Tyler soon became an honored teammate for the SGV Team in Training. After several treatments and struggles, Tyler is now 10 looking like a normal 10 year old, according to Ms. Garner. He recently completed his first 5K race and has been an inspiration to all those who surround him. As for Mr. and Ms. Garner, they continue to inspire countless lives as well. Since 2000, Ms. Garner has completed 2 full and 30 half-marathons and Mr. Garner has completed 31 full and 49 half-marathons. Ms. Garner now serves on the board of the Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the LLS and continues to provide support to families struggling with cancer. She, along with Mr. Garner, is currently training and fundraising for the Nike Womens Half Marathon in Washington, DC on

Longtime Claremont residents Van and Virginia Garner begin their regular workout recently along Yale Avenue at Memorial Park in Claremont. The couple began running in 2000 when Ms. Garner, who is a cancer survivor, signed them up to run a marathon for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

April 28. Together, they have met more than 80 percent of their goal to raise $300,000 for cancer research before this date. For people struggling with cancer, Mr. and Ms. Garner have a few pieces of advice to offer. It is of utmost importance to be active in your treatment. A doctor can go through his entire career without ever encountering a CML patient, according to Ms. Garner, so its important to get in touch with an expert who deals with your certain kind of cancer. As for clinical trials, follow the same rule. We believe in clinical trials but you need to be informed, Mr. Garner said, who was initially offered a trial that failed to achieve success. It is also essential not to isolate yourself and to reach out to an organization such as the LLS that can provide financial and emotional assistance, among many other types of support. Mr. and Ms. Garner also recognize

the critical role of the caregiver. Its hard work and its hard on your soul, Ms. Garner said. Mr. Garner agrees. Its a really hard thing to dofilled with fear. At the same time, it is your responsibility to help that person and to find all the answers, he noted. Educate yourself. You owe it to the person on the other side. To help Mr. and Ms. Garner achieve their goal of raising $300,000 by April 28th 2013, visit Ms. Garners website at http://pages.teamintraining.org/los/nike

whlf13/virginiagarner or Mr. Garners website at http://pages.teamintrain ing.org/los/nikewhlf13/vangarner. Online donations will be accepted until May 28th 2013. You can also email Ms. Garner at vgarner@doglover.com to discuss other forms of making a donation.
Anam Sethi

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Elizabeth Palmer: Marking a milestone and a world of experiences

ong known for her forthrightness, Elizabeth Palmer, a 10year resident of Claremonts Pilgrim Place, did not let the festive atmosphere of her 100th birthday celebration on April 17 subdue that quality.

A native of New York City, the woman who became a true citizen of the world attended and graduated from the Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, New York, a preparatory elementary and high school. She then spent a year in Italy where she learned French and Italian and studied art history. After returning to the United States, the young Elizabeth worked in her fathers furniture factory

and majored in religious education at Columbia University. She became acquainted with the Young Womens Christian Association (YWCA) through her involvement in summer day camps for underprivileged childrenit was there that she met a woman from the YWCA. In the mid-1930s, not many knew of the YWCAElizabeth was teased at the time by a boyfriend who called her Little Sunshine from the muscle factory. After becoming a young YWCA Secretary (today theyre known as Executive Directors or Chief Executive Officers) in New York, she was recruited by the British branch of the YWCA during World War II for help. Elizabeth crossed the Atlantic by way of a troopship in 1942 and became the General Secretary of the YWCA of

Manchester, England. Two days after the German surrender in 1945, she drove an army truck from Brussels to Utrecht, gathering delegates for a meeting in The Hague. She worked with local groups in France and Belgium, and then widened that association to Germany, Holland and Czechoslovakia as she organized the conference. By 1947, she was instrumental in a World YWCA Council meeting in Hangchow, China, the first legislative assembly ever held outside Europe or North America, and was appointed as the first World YWCA Secretary for Southeast Asia. Although the position involved a great deal of travel, Elizabeth reflected in later years that she was fortunate to have had the time to get to know the people since, at the time, most of the travel was by ship, allowing time to work out details and learn languages. After returning to Geneva in 1952, Elizabeth became a secretary for interpretation of finance, a position she held until becoming the General Secretary of the World YWCA in 1955, a position she maintained until 1978. Elizabeth returned to London for the 100th birthday of the World YWCA on April 24 in 1994 when the occasion was marked with a service at Westminster Abbey. I was lucky to have a lot of travel, Elizabeth reflected this week of her long career. It pushed me and occupied my mind and my being. She is especially proud of another aspect of YWCA activities. Today, it is the most inter-racial movement in the world, she quietly declares. Lest anyone think that Elizabeth was a oneinterest person, it should be known that she was an active skier. I started skiing when I was living in New York Citywe would take the train on
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I never felt bad about being an American.

Elizabeth Palmer Reminiscing at 100 years old about her travels

Photo courtesy of Tim Sunderland/Pilgrim Place Elizabeth Palmer, left, chats with Mary Douglas at her 100th birthday party held at Pilgrim Place last Wednesday. Ms. Palmer was the General Secretary of the World YWCA, playing a key role in helping the nonprofit organization become known world-wide. The birthday celebration reportedly included, "all kinds of good food and champagne, and cake to boot!"

Friday night and come back on Sunday night. She also played at the Claremont Golf Course 3 times a week, reluctantly giving up her time on the golf links at the age of 96. Fellow Pilgrim Charles Bayer, who presented a congratulatory letter from President Barack Obama to her at the party, recalled, with gratitude, that it was Elizabeth who about 10 years ago advised him to slow down your backswing. In addition to that honor, a proclamation honoring Elizabeth was presented from former Claremont mayor Larry Schroeder. Carolyn Flowers, treasurer of the World Wide YWCA, made the trip from her home in Greensboro, North Carolina to be present for the occasion. Elizabeths god-daughter Lucy Shepard, her husband, Dwight Shepard, and their daughter Lisa came from Longmeadow, Massachusetts, and made the announcement that the World Wide YWCA was to announce on its day on April 14 an endowment in Elizabeths name, along with a plaque in her honor at the World Wide headquarters in Geneva. Ms. Shepard noted with a smile that Elizabeth is known for being never, never ever at a loss for words. True to her giving nature, Elizabeth was among the givers for the occasion, donating what Pilgrim Place describes as significant funds for a video streaming system in Pitzer Lodge where she makes her home, in the Napier Center and in Decker Hall to keep residents up to date with whats going on. I believe it should be one community. It will make people feel connected. She is a strong advocate of keeping up, admitting that she cant live without a world map and that she feels lost without a newspaper to read. As for the honoree herself, Elizabeth declared of the occasion, Theres no virtue in it, really. Its learning to live with diminishment, and people act as if youve done something wonderful. Of her younger years, Elizabeth remembers that her father would wake me up by saying something uncomplimentary about President Roosevelt, but she quickly adds that she never had pressure from her family. Among the pluses in her life, Elizabeth lists Pilgrim Place as being very good to me. And she admits that during all her travels, I never felt bad about being an American. One of her main goals, through the YWCA, was to help women, when theyre young, to see themselves as a person. Elizabeth does worry a bit about society getting away from common responsibility. Our history should teach us. And, we should study our history.
Pat Yarborough

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Zumba! San Antonio High School principal gets fit through dance-filled exercise craze

n a workout room at the Claremont Club on Monday, 30 women gave their all, shimmying, sambaing, salsa-ing and shuffling their way to fitness.
Two brave men were also among their ranks, one of them Steven Boyd, principal of San Antonio High School. A 4year member of the Claremont Club, he decided 2 years ago to enliven his fitness routine with the aerobic dance sensation Zumba and hes never looked back. Like most people, time and a busy work schedule had crept up on Mr. Boyd over the years, adding a few pounds. More disturbing was the severe sleep apnea he had developed, a condition characterized by pauses or disruption in breath while sleeping. It can cause chronic tiredness and, if left untreated, can increase the risk of health issues such as high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke. Mr. Boyd had resorted to sleeping with a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine, equipment that blows a constant flow of air into the nasal passages to keep the airway open, but he found it bothersome. Increased exercise is among the lifestyle changes that can help lessen the severity of sleep apnea, so he hit the gym with renewed zeal. Mr. Boyd had dabbled with spin classes, but they werent his thing and, while getting in shape was a priority, he didnt derive much enjoyment from running on a treadmill with his eyes glued to the television.
San Antonio High School Principal Steven Boyd keeps time with the music as he participates in a Zumba Class on Monday at the Claremont Club. Mr. Boyd has been keeping in shape with Zumba for 2 years.

He saw a Zumba infomercial one Saturday morning and was intrigued. Soon, while working out on the machines, he began to glance over at the glass-walled dance classroom and notice that the Zumba classes were particularly lively. I said to myself, they look like theyre having fun, Mr. Boyd said. The classes were immediately engaging for Mr. Boyd, but it was rough going for a while. He initially hid in the back of the class, not wishing to stand out as a novice. But it was impossible to see what the teacher was doing from that vantage, so he gradually began creeping further and further forward. Now he is there 4 times a week, 6 or 7 times during the summer, at the head of the class. Erikca Brown, an Upland resident who has been taking Zumba at the Claremont Club for 4 years, has enjoyed Mr. Boyds presence in the classes.
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COURIER photos/Steven Felschundneff Zumba instructor Anette Parker leads a class in the dance-style exercise on Monday at The Claremont Club. San Antonio High School Principal Steven Boyd, at right, was one of 2 men in the class of about 30 women.

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COURIER photo/Steven Felschundneff Steven Boyd attends Zumba as often as his schedule will allow, which is about 3 or 4 times a week during the school year.
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Its nice to have a male presence in class, Ms. Brown said. Hes in here holding his own. Holding your own is a considerable challenge. Zumba entails an everchanging barrage of moves derived from an array of music and dance genres, including salsa, merengue, cumbia, hip-hop and even a touch of flamenco. Other than a few brief cool-down periods, the hour-long classes feature music with a beat ranging from festive to frantic. Mr. Boyd estimates that he burns from 1,000-1,200 calories per average Zumba class. At Mondays session, Mr. Boyd, clad in a bright orange shirt and shiny sneakers with day-glo soles, burned a whopping 1,500 according to a monitor he wears to chart his heartrate. Mr. Boyds weight has continued to go up and down since he began

Zumba-ing, mainly, he admits, because he doesnt watch what he eats. Nonetheless, he has gained steadily in the kind of endurance you need to get through the classes. And in general, Ive got a lot more energy, he said. The more you work out, the better you feel. Its energy that Mr. Boyd can apply to work at the continuation school, which involves taking kids who are not a good fit for Claremont High School and helping guide them toward graduation and life success. San Antonio High School has a population of some 105 kids, ages 16 and up. They have transferred to the continuation school, most after attending CHS, because poor school performance has left them in danger of not getting a diploma. It may be that a student suffers from poor organizational skills or some kind of attention deficit. Perhaps a student has experienced some personal prob-

lems or illness that has caused them to miss classes or lose focus. Other students, those Mr. Boyd refers to as My Mohawk kids, may have difficulty following the lock-step required for success at a traditional high school. Theyre high-functioning, just a little odd. Theyre intelligent, they just want to rage against the machine, Mr. Boyd explains. They dont want to fit into a mold. They want to be their own person. SAHS also includes 20 kids, ranging from 7th through 12th grades, who need added supervision due to behavior issues or an unwillingness or inability to complete homework. The maturity just hasnt kicked in yet for some of them, Mr. Boyd said. Many students begin to thrive once they are at a smaller school characterized by a high teacher-to-student ratio, lots of access to technology and individualized attention to the difficulties that may be holding them back. In some cases, the real underlying problem is poverty. Some of these kids come in with a lot of baggage. Ill have a kid come in and say, My stomach hurts, Mr. Boyd said. Ill say, Did you have breakfast? and theyll say, No. Ill say, Lets get you some breakfast, because if you dont feel comfortable you dont learn. SAHS has a winning record of doing right by Claremont students who need extra support. Mr. Boyd, who has been principal for the past 9 years, notes that SAHS students have a 90 to 95 percent graduation rate. What they do once they are out of the high school walls is up to the students, but a staggering 100

percent of San Antonio students are enrolled in college when they graduate. Seeing the upward trajectory is incredibly rewarding, according to Mr. Boyd: I get to see the light turned back on in students eyes. SAHS graduations, which for the past few years have taken place at CHSIf they cant graduate from Claremont High School, at least they get to walk with their peersare particularly emotional, because each students outcome was touch-and-go for a while. If you look around at a graduation, you know who the San Antonio High School parents are because theyre the loudest, Mr. Boyd said. Theyre just so excited, and so thankful. I cry at every graduation. Mr. Boyd may be open with his emotions, but he admits that he has a few awkward moments at each Zumba class, especially given that hes had some of his students moms in his classes. There are hip rolls, groin thrusts and more than a little bootyshaking. Shake it, Steve! Ms. Brown jokingly called out to Mr. Boyd during a chest-shimmy move at Mondays class. I feel weird, because I am a principal, he said. He relishes the feeling of greater fitness that he has derived from Zumba, however. Hes such an aficionado that he is a sort of evangelist for the exercise genre, though Mr. Boyd hasnt won many converts yet. I try to get my male friends to come, but they just wont do it, he said.
Sarah Torribio storribio@claremont-courier.com

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A competitive edge:
High school sports offer life-long opportunity
ur nation values youth sports to the extent that, at around age 14, teenagers are offered an assortment of after-school sports and activities. This is likely intended partly to keep students busy and wear them out before they tackle homework assignments. But the most important aspect is that sports can help with students confidence and work-life balance. High school sports help students stay in shape physically and mentally, while they form bonds with teammates and make strong friendships. Additionally, high school sports can give student-athletes an edge when applying to and financing college.

Claremont High Schools Ben Jardine does the breaststroke on his way to winning the 200-meter individual medley recently during a meet in La Verne.

COURIER photos/Steven Felschundneff Claremont High School student Yeison Ferree leaps to stop the ball during a shooting drill last October at Padua Park.

eison Ferree is a Claremont High School sophomore who plays on the junior varsity soccer and volleyball teams. Yeison is also the team mascot, meaning he dons the big Wolf suit, which basically cooks anyone who wears it. Yeison moved with his family from the Dominican Republic to the United States when he was 12, and did not speak any English.

Jenny Darroch

In the Dominican, we always played baseball. When we moved to New York, I saw 2 of the new friends I had made kicking a soccer ball around and decided to join in. I ended up loving soccer, especially because so many Spanish-speaking people play the sport, Yeison said. It didnt take long for me to get good at it. Yeison has also played volleyball for a long time, and picked up figure skating around this time. The Ferree fami-

ly moved to California a couple of years later, just in time for Yeison to start high school. I played club soccer for the Foothill Storm for a while, but high school sports has been more fun, Yeison said. CHS soccer has been good for my confidence. Club soccer developed my competitive side and honed my
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fundamental skills, but I hope playing CHS soccer will help me get onto the Citrus team. I want to play for Fred Bruce-Oliver at this level, and in college. For a young man new to the country, sports were Yeisons way of meeting new people and challenging himself, but his parents made sure that they were not his only focus. My parents always emphasized their policy of school first, then sports, he said. They have always been supportive of my choices. They

knew that I love soccer, and that is what I would focus on getting good at. In the beginning, my folks questioned whether I would keep with it. They [urged] me to keep pursuing soccer if I thought I would commit to it. Jenny Darroch is another immigrant who sent her sons to Claremont High. Ben and Sam Jardine came with their mother to California from New Zealand a few years before high school. It is a water-based country so everyone can swim there, she explained. Our oldest son Sam went to the elementary school championships and realized he was quite good. We told him to stick with tee ball and soccer and

give it another year before committing to swimming. Sam currently swims for Louisiana State University, and Ben is a CHS senior with a spot on Pitzers swim team lined up for next year. Our youngest, Ben, was 7 when he started swimming. He would watch his brothers meets and was driving us crazy, so we got him into it. Then we switched countries and came here. The boys enjoyed the social part of the sport, especially Ben. It is about the wellness and the feeling that you can achieve. That was the first place he made friends, swimming club, she said. Ms. Darroch emphasized the difference between her sons, and how each had a distinct motivation to swim. Sam was the one who you knew would practice all day to get better; we knew he wanted to swim in Division I in college, she explained. Bens number-one motivation was about the friends on the swim team, hanging out at meets and before and after practice. If you asked Ben his times, he couldnt tell you. He didnt have the pressure on him, even though his brother was so successful. A recreational swimmer herself, Ms. Darroch learned about her sons incredible resiliency when he came

down with an illness that physically debilitated him 2 years ago. Last years season was magnificent for him coming back from his sickness. He made CIF as an alternate and he got to swim there. He got the coaches award for his attitude; Courtney Eads has been great with him, keeping him motivated during his tough times. Swimming was such an important part of Bens return to wellness. He got his confidence back and kept getting stronger, joining club again after quitting for a year. High school sports offer young athletes just the right amount of competitiveness for teenagers reaching their physical peak. Young athletes run the gamut between beginning and trying out an array of new sports, to the focused one-sport athlete who aspires to compete in the NCAA. Both Yeison and Ben are relatively new to the United States, and they have each found sanctuary in our nations high school sports arena. Next year, Ben will have left Claremont High for college, but we will see Yeison continue to improve and provide that X-factor for CHS sports for a couple more years.
Chris Oakley sports@claremont-courier.com